Start of the sustainability academy: Tourism becomes green!

Start of the sustainability academy: Tourism becomes green!

in times of climate change and growing environmental awareness, sustainable tourism is becoming increasingly important. The Destination network Austria (DNA) and the postgraduate center at the University of Vienna have therefore decided to start a sustainability academy from autumn 2025. This academy is aimed specifically at employees from tourism, especially in the tourism regions of Austria.

The goal of the academy is clear: participants should obtain the necessary knowledge and tools in order to promote sustainable and resilient design of their regions. The academy consists of three blocks: two presence phases and an online module. "Here we combine scientifically sound knowledge with the practical implementation in the home regions," says a representative of the academy. After completion, a certificate from the University of Vienna, which is recognized across Europe with 15 ECTS points.

The concept of the academy

The academy is aimed at all those who want to initiate sustainable change processes in their organizations. They are accompanied by renowned scientists and experienced practitioners. The range of topics ranges from strategy development to climate -friendly mobility to habitat management and communication.

A particularly creative element of the academy is the possibility for the participants to implement their own project work in their home region between the modules. Local knowledge is promoted and the exchange with regional sustainability experts is intensified.

sustainable mobility in tourism

The importance of mobility in tourism cannot be assessed high enough. It is a central aspect that is of great importance for both the accessibility of the destination and on -site mobility. According to the Federal Ministry of Economics, Innovation and Technology (BMWit), it is important to develop future mobility solutions that are attractive for guests and locals.

A guide to sustainable tourist mobility in the Paneuropean region shows that traffic in tourism causes significant greenhouse gas emissions and can burden local communities. The aim is to integrate sustainable strategies and improve existing mobility offers. These include flexible transport systems, promoting cycling and hiking as well as the integration of sustainable mobility services into the travel offers of the regions, such as in Competence Center Tourismus

The ideas and recommendations of the guidelines are of interest not only for traffic service providers and tour operators, but also for municipalities and companies. Innovative, customer-friendly mobility solutions can prove to be a real location and competitive advantage.

The way to sustainable tourism development is therefore clear. Interested specialists can still register for the academy, with 15 places already occupied. Anyone interested in the exchange of best practice examples and learning from renowned experts should act quickly.

Further information on registration and the program can be found at www.dna-tourismus.at